What's behind those puppy dog eyes? New research suggests that over thousands of years of dog domestication, people preferred pups that could pull off that appealing, sad look. And that encouraged the development of the facial muscle that creates it.
"You don't typically see such muscle differences in species that are that closely related," said Anne Burrows of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, an author of the study released Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Burrows and her colleagues examined the eye muscles in the cadavers of six dogs and two wolves. They found dogs have a meaty eye muscle to lift their eyebrows and make puppy dog eyes. But in wolves, the same muscle was stringy or missing. The researchers believe dogs, over their relatively short 33,000 years of domestication, used this eye muscle to communicate, possibly goading people to feed or care for them — or at least take them out to play. And people, perhaps unwittingly, obliged."The implications are quite profound," said Brian Hare from Duke University and who edited the article.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chili's Is Giving Away Free Burgers Today Because Someone's Been Reading My DiaryFREE BURGERS, PEOPLE.
Read more »
Shares of cancer-therapy companies skyrocket after Pfizer acquisition newsShares of gene-therapy companies shot up on Monday after Pfizer Inc. announced it would acquire cancer drug maker Array BioPharma Inc. in a deal worth up to...
Read more »
Thanks, Warriors: Here's how to get free Taco Bell today
Read more »
All the Royals Were Out for This Year’s Ascot RacesThe Royal Ascot—the annual British horse race and social event—began today with a bang.
Read more »
https://www.instyle.comInStyle is the leading site for celebrity style. See expert fashion advice, star hairstyles, beauty tips, how-to videos and real-time red carpet coverage.
Read more »
14 Random Pop Culture Moments That Would've Been A Huge Deal If They Happened TodayOMG Cher calling Madonna the C-word.
Read more »